Carole Lorraine (Madden) Walker

November 15, 1935 – November 13, 2024

Carole Lorraine Walker passed away November 13, 2024, suddenly and unexpectedly on a usual busy day doing the things she loved. Just two days away from the age of 89.

Born in a rural farmhouse southwest of Perry, Oklahoma on November 15, 1935, she was the daughter of Fred and Essie Madden. She attended the one-room school located about a mile from her home for all eight grades, then transferred to Perry High School where she graduated in 1953.

Carole worked that summer as a bookkeeper for the local Farmers’ Co-op and continued working summers and school vacations at the Co-op throughout her college career. She graduated Phi Kappa Phi with a BS in Business Education from Oklahoma A. & M. in May 1957. She was a twirler all throughout high school and college and did exhibition events like using a flaming baton. She also loved to play softball and pitched for intramural teams.

She and Harold Dean Woods from Sayre, Oklahoma were married in September 1957. He had one more semester of college, so they lived in Perry where she continued working for the Farmers’ Co-op. Harold was in the Air Force and until 1979. They were stationed in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Utah, Japan, Illinois, Hawaii, and North Carolina. They were blessed with two children, Cheri and Casey.

In her work career she served as bookkeeper-accountant for 15 years at the North Carolina State Faculty Club and at the North Carolina Legislature as an administrative assistant for 15 years.

In 1987, she married Robert Dawes Walker, Sr. of Raleigh, NC. They enjoyed traveling, playing golf, keeping up with family, and spoiling their four Yorkshire terriers.

Preceding her in death were: her husband, Bob in 2014; her former husband, Harold; two brothers, Kenneth Lee Madden and Dale Ace Madden; step-daughter, Jane Walker Perkinson.

Survivors include: her daughter, Cheri Woods Taylor; son, Casey Dean Woods; sister, Ada Jean Westling (Lyn); sister-in-law, Celia Madden; numerous nieces and nephews and their children; step-daughter Margaret (Peggy) Walker Ramseur (Bob); step-son Robert (Bob) Dawes Walker, Jr., (Lynne); seven step-grandchildren, Robert James Ramseur, Jr. (Amanda), Kathryn Ramseur Keith (Jamie), Robert Dawes Walker III, John Bowen (Bo) Walker (Suzanne), Mary Covington Coleman (Ed), John Robert Perkinson, and Trudy Perkinson Roberts; nine step-great-grandchildren, Robert Ramseur, Walker Ramseur, Meghan Keith, Lauren Keith, Free Perkinson, Wilder Walker, Bennett Walker, Ward Coleman, and Becca Coleman.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am November 20, 2024, at Millbrook United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. A Celebration of Life will be held at North Ridge Country Club and interment of ashes at Raleigh Memorial Cemetery in January 2025. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Millbrook United Methodist Church, or to the charity of your choice.